Joke: Christian skips church to go bear hunting.
Text: Luke 21:19 “By your patience possess your souls.”
NIV “Stand firm, and you will win life.”
Intro: Last week we shared about “How to Stop
Worrying and Start Living.” We’ll carry that further into
how to Win Life; Win in the Midst of Crisis and Win by
Preventing Crisis.
I. Last week we shared about “How to Stop worrying
and Start Living”. Some people can handle that just
fine… until there is a crisis… real or created.
II. The Crisis Context of Luke 21:19.
A. Vs. 19 NIV “Stand firm, and you will win
life.”
B.
This powerful verse about winning is in the
context of crisis.
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C.
Luke 21:10-18 10 Then he said to them: “Nation will rise
against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be great
earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and
great signs from heaven. 12 “But before all this, they will seize you and
persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison,
and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my
name. 13 And so you will bear testimony to me. 14 But make up your mind not
to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. 15 For I will give you
words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or
contradict. 16 You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters,
relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. 17 Everyone will
hate you because of me. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish. 19 Stand
firm, and you will win life.
III. The First Century Crisis.
A. The first century believers sometimes
faced horrible crisis.
B.
Note the call “make up your mind not to
worry beforehand”.
C.
At first, verse 18 seems to indicate they will
never experience physical harm. But this must
be interpreted in context. They have also been
warned about persecution and suffering (verses
12, 16-17). This ancient expression indicates
protection by God’s ultimate (but not necessarily
immediate) intervention.
D. Jesus is encouraging them to approach
impending danger with absolute optimism. God
will have the last word. They will be raised
incorruptible (I Corinthians 15:50-58).
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IV. The 21st Century Crisis
A. Beheading of Christians by Isis.
B.
Shooting of Christians in Oregon this week
C.
Events of end time- God wants us to
“comfort one another with these words.” I
Thess.4:13.
D. God still calls you not to worry. If you faced
those dire circumstances He would give you just
what you need at the moment you need it.
V. “Stand firm and you will win life.” Vs. 19
A. The Greek word here for “patience” (NIV“standing firm”) is ὑπομονῇ (hypomonē) which
means “patient endurance or enduring under
affliction.”
B.
The Greek word here for “possess” (NIV“gain” or “win”) is κτήσασθε (ktēsasthe) which
means “to procure or purchase.” The use of the
middle imperative means we are commanded to
take action and be responsible for getting
ourselves under control by mastering our
emotions and actions.
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I. Win life by mastering emotions and actions.
II. God wants you to win life by preventing crisis in
your life.
A. The fruit of the Spirit includes “self-control.”
Gal. 5:22-23 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love,
joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control.
Against such things there is no law.
B.
To be a “disciple” includes a disciplined life
because God wants you to be successful and “win
life.”
III. Marshmallows, Self-Control and Future Success.1
A. 1960s at Stanford University’s Bing Nursery
School, Dr. Mischel.
B.
Children had the choice between one reward
like a marshmallow, pretzel, or mint which they
could eat immediately, and double the reward if
they would wait for 10-20 minutes without eating
the first one.
1
http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/09/what-the-marshmallow-test-really-teaches-about-self-control/380673/
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C.
Long term consequences of impulse control
and delayed gratification.
1. The children who waited for a second
marshmallow or pretzel (showing self-control
and delayed gratification, fared much better in
life.
2. Higher SAT scores.
3. Lower BMI (Body Mass Index).
4. Lower rates of addiction.
5. Lower divorce rates.
6. More competent in life than those who took
instant gratification.
7. Higher level of satisfaction.
D. “The Marshmallow Test: Mastering SelfControl” book covering 50 years of results.
E. Also stated that “self-control can be learned at
any age.”2 (You still CHOOSE YOUR DESTINY)
IV. The Bible has been teaching the same thing for
thousands of years.
Next Week: Mastering Your Life
Discussion Items and Questions for Home and Small Group
1. In your own words, what does it mean to ‘stand firm and you will win life”?
2. Would you have wait for the second marshmallow?
3. Name an area you need more self-control in.
4. How can you better master your emotions and actions?
5. Pray for each other.
2
http://www.cnn.com/2014/12/22/us/marshmallow-test/
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